The practice of goal-setting has helped me define, refine, and pursue my dreams. Lately, consistency has been the part I’ve struggled with most.

I’m a firm believer that accountability shapes progress. Writing goals down, visualizing them, and breaking them down into tangible, baby steps has always worked for me. It's a proven method; you can’t go from point A to point B without a roadmap.

Truthfully somewhere over the past two years, I lost sight of that method. Instead of writing things down, my goals and ideas have lived only in my head. I’ve still made meaningful progress, but much of it has been haphazard — less guided by a clear roadmap and more by momentum.

I want to change that in 2026, so I'm writing down my goals again. Looking them over, I’m excited to continue growing in ways that put me first. Choosing “me” feels new because my focus has usually been on my career and the identity I’ve built around it.

10 years into a dream career, I finally decided to pivot and focus on myself. When I first broke into the fashion industry, I was so grateful to everyone who bet on me that I always felt I had something to prove. It showed up in countless ways: voluntarily working over the weekends, trying to "outwork" my imaginary competition, and constantly carrying a chip on my shoulder.

While I learned a lot and my efforts ultimately brought me to where I am today, I can now zoom out and see that I was always putting others before myself. Feeling valued at work is nice, but it's fleeting. There’s always another fire drill around the corner. At 33, I'm leaning into the mindset that you don’t owe anyone anything but yourself.

This mindset couldn’t come at a more honest time. Right now, I’m scared as ever about the instability of going full-time with WABM. When I really think about it though, I’m also excited to finally live life for me.

So here are my goals for 2026:

1. 1. Lead with vulnerability, intention and authenticity in my own way
   2. Fall in love
   3. Post more content → preferably video or interview series
   4. Care and compare less
   5. Sharpen vocabulary so I can use big words conversationally again
   6. Lean into the belief that all change is good because it opens a new door
   7. Create a slow, calming routine → not everything needs to be productive, it just needs to be for me
   8. Be consistent → it’s the only way to get good at something
   9. Know when to work *hint it’s not 24/7*
   10. Sit still, you can’t solve everything. Learn to let things come to you
   11. Find a new hobby, defined as something you do weekly

Overall, the throughline is simple: I want to sharpen my mind and become the best version of myself. It’s not about what I have, it’s about how I feel. And that’s love because it’s also essential to cultivating a beginner’s mind.

I say this from time to time, but thank you for allowing me to be myself. This weekly journal series is a new way for me to connect with you. I’m excited to keep it going as I get back to writing, setting goals, and tracking them over time.